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The
telecoms operator added that talks to buy Bouygues Telecom would
"require at least several weeks before any decision is taken",
although Chief Executive Stephane Richard said Orange was doing
everything to see them through.
Orange said 2015 restated earnings before interest, taxes, debt
and amortization (EBITDA) rose 0.1 percent to 12.43 billion
euros ($13.86 billion), beating its own target of "at least"
12.3 billion and the average estimate in a Reuters poll of 12.36
billion.
Europe's fifth-largest telecom operator by market value
predicted that its restated EBITDA would be higher again this
year on a comparable basis.
Annual revenue dipped 0.1 percent to 40.24 billion euros,
compared with the poll average of 40.27 billion. Net income more
than doubled to 2.96 billion euros from 1.26 billion. The
company said it would pay a dividend of 60 cents per share for
2015 and 2016.
Shares in Orange were up 1.4 percent in early trading.
Orange's CEO told BFM Business on Tuesday that the possible
acquisition of Bouygues Telecom was "a large transaction which
requires that we take as much time as necessary", adding that he
was cautious on the outcome.
Paris-based Orange and Bouygues are likely to reach an initial
agreement in March at the earliest, amid wrangling over terms
that would make Bouygues the second-biggest shareholder in
Orange after the French state, sources close to the matter told
Reuters on Monday. ($1 = 0,896157 euro)
(Editing by James Regan)
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